"If that is the case how are we to get in there?" Neal asked.
"Poyor has a plan which I think will be successful; wait until he returns, and if the conditions are favorable to the attempt you shall soon know."
"But suppose he stays away until a party of Indians take it into their heads to come in this direction?"
"There is little danger of our being discovered unless it has been suspected we have crossed the swamp, which is hardly probable. Very few of the inhabitants ever venture out, and there is no reason why they should come to this exact spot. Lie down now, Poyor will be with us by nightfall."
It was a simple matter to follow the first portion of this advice; but decidedly difficult to close their eyes in slumber after what had been seen.
Teddy and Neal, who threw themselves on the ground side by side, could not keep their thoughts from the wonderful city, and when both Jake and Cummings were apparently wrapped in slumber the former whispered:
"Do you think now that we were foolish to come?"
"No, because it isn't so far in the swamp but that we can get out in a short time if anything happens, and a glimpse of that city would repay a fellow for considerable trouble."
"But suppose the Indians get hold of us?"
"That is something I reckon Cummings can take care of. If he has made such elaborate preparations for entering, when it is so near where he was living we can be pretty certain there will be no very grave mistake."
"Even if we succeed in reaching the city I can't understand how it will be possible to carry away much gold."
"Nor I; but yet you know a small package is valuable, and five persons could lug a great deal."
"Do you fancy he brought us simply to carry the treasure for him?"
"He said we would all share alike, so our services wouldn't be of much advantage to him, more particularly since he and the Indian could bring away a heavier load than all three of us."
In this manner, speculating upon the benefits which might accrue to them rather than regarding the great danger to which the entire party was exposed, the boys passed the time until late in the afternoon, and then Poyor approached so softly that he stood in their midst before any one had heard even a rustling among the leaves.
